2D-HEC-RAS Modeling of Flood Wave Propagation in a Semi-Arid Area Due to Dam Overtopping Failure

Dam overtopping failure and the resulting floods are hazardous events that highly impact the inundated areas and are less predictable. The simulation of the dam breach failure and the flood wave propagation is necessary for assessing flood hazards to provide precautions. In the present study, a two-dimensional HEC-RAS model was used to simulate the flood wave resulting from the hypothetical failure of Al-Udhaim Dam on Al-Udhaim River, Iraq, and the propagation of the resulting dam-break wave along 100 km downstream the dam site for the overtopping scenario. The main objective is to analyze the propagation of the flood wave so that the failure risk on dam downstream areas can be assessed and emergency plans may be provided. The methodology consisted of two sub-models: the first is the dam breach failure model for deriving the breach hydrograph, and the second is the hydrodynamic model for propagating the flood wave downstream of the dam. The breach hydrograph is used as an upstream boundary condition to derive the flood impact in the downstream reach of Al- Udhaim River. The flood inundation maps were visualized in RAS-Mapper in terms of water surface elevation, water depth, flow velocity, and flood arrival time. The maximum recorded values were: 105 m (a.m.s.l.), 18 m, 5.5 m/s, and, respectively. The flow velocity decreased from upstream to downstream of the terrain, which means less risk of erosion in the far reaches downstream of the study area. The inundation maps indicated that the water depth and flow velocity were categorized as Catastrophic limits on the terrain's area. The results offer a way to predict flood extent and showed that the impact of a potential dam break at Al-Udhiam Dam will be serious, therefore, suitable management is needed to overcome this risk. Moreover, the maps produced by this study are useful for developing plans for sustainable flood management. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091739 Full Text: PD

Enhancement efficiency of polymer solar cells by incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited at the interface of the hole-collecting buffer layer [poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS)] and regiore-gular poly (3-hexylthiophene) :[6,6]-phenylC61-butyricacidmethylester(rr-P3HT):(PCBM) active layer were found to significantly increase solar cell performance. The photo-physical properties of these devices incorporated with AuNPs with different space distributions in the interface of PEDOT:PSS buffer layer and P3HT:PCBM active layer are investigated. We find that, the optical property is improved as the AuNPs are large enough to penetrate into the active layer and the performance of Photovoltaic solar cells (PSCs) with large AuNPs can benefit from the improved hole collection efficiency. The efficiency enhancement for the device with a PEDOT:PSS: AuNPs film is more significant than for the device with PEDOT:PSS film. Keywords: PEDOT:PSS, Buffer layer, P3HT:PCBM, Gold oxide nanoparticle

Point-of-care diagnostics of covid-19: From current work to future perspectives

Coronaviruses have received global concern since 2003, when an outbreak caused by SARS‐CoV emerged in China. Later on, in 2012, the Middle‐East respiratory syndrome spread in Saudi Arabia, caused by MERS‐CoV. Currently, the global crisis is caused by the pandemic SARS‐ CoV‐2, which belongs to the same lineage of SARS‐CoV. In response to the urgent need of diagnostic tools, several lab‐based and biosensing techniques have been proposed so far. Five main areas have been individuated and discussed in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. The cell‐culture detection and the microneutralization tests are still considered highly reliable methods. The genetic screening, featuring the well‐established Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), represents the gold standard for virus detection in nasopharyngeal swabs. On the other side, immunoassays were developed, either by screening/antigen recognition of IgM/IgG or by detecting the whole virus, in blood and sera. Next, proteomic mass‐spectrometry (MS)‐based methodologies have also been proposed for the analysis of swab samples. Finally, virus-biosensing devices were efficiently designed. Both electrochemical immunosensors and eye‐based technologies have been described, showing detection times lower than 10 min after swab introduction. Alternative to swab‐based techniques, lateral flow point‐of‐care immunoassays are already commercially available for the analysis of blood samples. Such biosensing devices hold the advantage of being portable for on‐site testing in hospitals, airports, and hotspots, virtually without any sample treatment or complicated lab precautions

Pipeline Safety: Federal Program and Reauthorization Issues

The 107th Congress is considering legislation that would amend federal pipeline safety law, which directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to regulate pipeline transportation and storage of natural gases and hazardous liquids. Those bills also would authorize funding for the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), which is charged with implementing federal pipeline safety law. Among the topics discussed as part of the process of reauthorizing the OPS program are: state versus federal roles in pipeline safety, increased community involvement, funding amounts to support OPS, and new regulatory directives and authorities intended to improve the OPS program and associated state activities. S. 235, as amended, the "Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2001," passed the Senate on February 8, 2001. This report will be updated as necessary

Performance Enhancement of Luminescent Solar Concentrator by using Mixing Fluorescent Colors and Nanoparticles

Liquid zinc acetate nanoparticles were added to a fluorescent organic dye (fluorescein sodium) to prepare three concentrations (2 × 10-5, 7×10-5, 1×10-4) moI/L, and the absorbance of the dye was measured before and after adding Liquid nanomaterial by using two devices (SCINCO Mega-2100 UV/visible Spectrophotometer.) as well as measuring the flux of the dye before and after adding zinc acetate nanoparticles using the (Spectrofluorometer F96 PRO). The Stoke displacement (Δη), the radiative age (τfm), the fluorescence lifetime (τf), and the quantitative efficiency (Qfm) were calculated. Absorption and fluorescence curves were drawn using the Excel program. The MATLAB program was also used to measure the area under the absorption and fluorescence spectra curves. It was found that the fluorescence intensity of fluorescein sodium dye has increased compared to the intensity of fluorescence before adding the nanomaterial and thus increasing the quantitative efficiency, which in turn helps in improving the performance of the photovoltaic concentrator, resulting in an improvement in the efficiency of the solar cell

Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety - Federal Program and Legislative Issues

This report provides Hazardous materials transportation safety - federal program and legislative issues

Attitudes and practices on antibiotic use and its emerging threats among Lebanese dairy veterinarians: a case study from a developing country

IntroductionThis study aimed to explore how veterinarians (vets) rationalized their prescribing decisions for antimicrobial (AM) uses, the barriers they perceived to implement proper farm management in Lebanon, and the consecutive threats that might arise concerning the emergent spread of antimicrobial resistance in animals and the population.MethodsAmid the COVID-19 pandemic, phone call interviews were conducted with 34 veterinarians working in different demographic regions across the country. Data were analyzed qualitatively using an inductive thematic analysis.Results and discussionThe majority of veterinarians called for responsible antibiotic use. The prescribing decision of veterinarians was based mainly on suspected disease from field examination, farmer’s reports via phone calls, and the ability of the farmer to cover antibiotic costs. Very few veterinarians referred to laboratory diagnosis before prescribing a specific AM due to many obstacles. This study uncovered the absence of a trust relationship between veterinarians and farmers in Lebanon. Veterinarians provided different insights into farming practices, reflecting that farmers, in general, lack proper knowledge and implementation of farm management and that they mainly treat the herd on their own, especially in light of the current unprecedented economic crisis that Lebanon has been facing in the last three years. Above all, veterinarians revealed that AM resistance in Lebanon is markedly spreading, which calls for a serious and instantaneous set of governmental policies and regulations

Effectiveness of Educational Program on Nurse's Knowledge Concerning Management of Cardiogenic Shock at AL-Mosul Teaching Hospitals

AbstractBackground: Cardiogenic shock resulting from an inadequate circulation of blood due to primary failure of the ventricles of the heart to function effectively. As this is a type of circulatory shock, there is insufficient perfusion of tissue to meet the demands for oxygen and nutrients. Cardiogenic shock is a largely irreversible condition and as such is more often fatal than not. The condition involves increasingly more pervasive cell death from oxygen starvation (hypoxia) and nutrient starvation (e.g. low blood sugar). Because of this, it may lead to cardiac arrest (or circulatory arrest), Nurses, physicians and others health team need to work together to develop a rapid and well-organized treatment approach to this devastating condition.Objective: The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an educational program on nurse's knowledge concerning management of cardiogenic shock.Methodology: A quasi-experimental design study was carried out at AL-Mosul teaching hospitals from March 9th 2015 to July 1st of 2015. The program and instruments constructed and developed by the researcher to measure the purpose of the study. Random sample comprised of (50) nurse was divided into two groups, study group consisted (25) nurse exposed to the nursing educational program and control group consisted (25) nurse were not exposed to the program.The measurement of the effectiveness of nursing educational program on nurses' knowledge the researcher use knowledge test includes (44) items concerning with assessment knowledge for nurses related to management of patients with cardiogenic shock. Reliability of instrument tools was determined through the use of test and retest and the instrument validity was determined through a panel of experts. The analysis of data was performed through the application of description statistic (Frequencies, Percentages, and cumulative percents, Mean of Score, Standard Deviation, Relative Sufficiency) and Inferential statistical (Chi-Square test, Fisher Exact Probability test to present the differences between the study and control groups).Results: The results of the study showed that there is good improvement with highly significant differences in study group between pre and post tests in overall main domains. for the nurses' knowledge.Conclusion: The study Concluded that that inadequate nurses' knowledge in the medical department (coronary care unit, medical ward and emergency department) toward management of patient with Cardiogenic shock.Recommendation: The study recommended that an educational program can be designed and constructed for nurses through the program ,an emphasis can be directed and oriented in management of patient with Cardiogenic shock should be included continuous training for all nursing staff who work in medical department(coronary care unit, medical ward and emergency department).Keyword: nurses; education; program; knowledge; management; Cardiogenic shock

Preparation of Some Eco-friendly Corrosion Inhibitors Having Antibacterial Activity from Sea Food Waste

Chitosan is one of the important biopolymers and it is extracted from exoskeletons of crustaceans in sea food waste. It is a suitable eco-friendly carbon steel corrosion inhibitor in acid media; the deacetylation degree of prepared chitosan is more than 85.16 %, and the molecular weight average is 109 kDa. Chitosan was modified to 2-N,N-diethylbenzene ammonium chloride N-oxoethyl chitosan (compound I), and 12-ammonium chloride N-oxododecan chitosan (compound II) as soluble water derivatives. The corrosion inhibition efficiency for carbon steel of compound (I) in 1 M HCl at varying temperature is higher than for chitosan and compound (II). However, the antibacterial activity of chitosan for Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans is higher than for its derivatives, and the minimum inhibition concentration and minimum bacterial concentration of chitosan and its derivatives were carried out with the same strain